• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1664-1671
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• 2009

Doenjang was prepared by using Bacillus subtilis DJI starter and purified salt or solar salt with 12% (w/w) concentration. The prepared Doenjangs were fermented and ripened for 2 month and 16 month, respectively. MTT assay was used to measure the growth-inhibitory effect of Doenjang extracts (water, methanol) on BJ (human foreskin normal cell), HT-29 (human colon cancer cell) and AGS (human gastric adenocarcinoma cell). The anticancer effect increased in both purified salt-Doenjang and solar salt-Doenjang as fermentation period increased. Moreover in the case of water extracts, solar salt-Doenjang (growth inhibitory rate; AGS: 50%, HT-29: 44%) showed definitely higher anticancer effect than purified salt-Doenjang (AGS: 32%, HT-29: 32%). In addition, apoptosis were observed when the water extracts of the Doenjangs were treated into AGS. In particular, it was observed that more apoptosis occured in solar salt-Doenjang treats than purified salt-Doenjang treats. These results suggested that prolonging the fermentation with addition of solar-salt when making Doenjang increased its anticancer effect via cancer cell growth inhibition induced by apoptosis process.